Child empowerment programme launched in Goa

Panaji, June 10 (UNI) A ten-day programme for protection and empowerment of the child has begun here under the aegis of the non-government organisation - Children's Rights in Goa (CRG).

The programme envisages a series of interactions with the law enforcement and judicial personnel for which experts from Philippines - Dr Bernadette Madrid and Attorney Katrina Legard are resource persons.

A special session will be held on June 18 for the judiciary to be presided over by High Court Justice Ferdino Rebello.

The resource persons are senior members of the Child Protection Unit Network in the Philippines and representatives of Asia in the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN).

They had earlier organised similar programmes for the Philippines Judicial Council and for police personnel in several countries.

CRG consultant Nishtha Desai yesterday said interacting with experts from countries that have similar problems can help enhance the investigation and prosecution potential of law enforcement and judiciary in Goa besides providing us with valuable insights on making our systems more child-friendly.

Goa, she said, was unique in that the Goa Children's Act had in vogue since July 2003 but its implementation was not up to the mark.

The current interaction with experts was expected to equip the authorities with special techniques and investigation tools needed for tackling the offenders of child abuse.

UNI BM GK RL KP0900